The widespread availability of high-quality Web-based tools and content offers new promise and potential for supporting teachers as creators of instructional activities. When coupled with a participatory Web culture and infrastructure, teachers can share their creations as well as leverage from the best that their peers have to offer to support a…

A description of the Duluth Student Learning Contract which provides a student with a program for individualized study. (AK)

Describes the variety of types of products produced by instructional designers, discusses the role of the designer, lists the critical instructional design attributes needed by instructors who design and implement loosely structured instructional products, and discusses prototype evaluation methods for less flexible, instructor-centered products.…

Describes "Placemark," an online tool for creating and managing Web pages within a school or district Web site. Topics include interviews with teachers to determine their needs, which centered around creating instructional materials and activities; online newsletters for parents; feedback to test the interface; formative evaluation; and…

An alternative approach to the systematic design and development of computer-assisted instruction courseware by classroom teachers is described which consist of three main stages of design, development, evaluation, and revision. Each stage produces a usable output: (1) computer-assisted testing program; (2) drill and practice courseware; and (3)…

Describes use of authoring systems--software packages which guide authors through the programming process, eliminating the need to know how to program--as a practical solution to the problem of teachers developing their own microcomputer courseware. Some representative authoring systems, their benefits and costs, and specific products are…

Discussion of course development teams for independent study materials focuses on a model developed at Grant MacEwan Community College (Alberta, Canada) for course team composition and operation. Highlights include advantages and disadvantages of course development teams; responsibilities of team members; objectives of team meetings; and work flow…

Examines issues related to the way a teacher acting as instructional designer deals with the content or knowledge base of the instructional materials being developed, including the nature of knowledge, learners' schemata, organization of content, facilitating abstract thinking, and standards of accuracy for knowledge representation. (24…